Davenport hockey team advances to title game

HUDSONVILLE -- The mission was simple for Davenport hockey coach Paul Lowden -- get Colorado State in trouble with penalties, sit back and reap the benefits.

Lowden's strategy worked, placing the Panthers in the national finals for the second year in a row.

Davenport will get a chance to defend its American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II club hockey championship after a 6-2 victory against Colorado State at Georgetown Ice Center on Friday.

"We knew they were a very physical team with big defensemen and quick forwards, and we knew Colorado State would bang us around," Lowden said. "We also knew they had a tendency to get into trouble with penalties, and I had a feeling special teams would be big."

Davenport (41-4), which will face Florida Gulf Coast 1 p.m. today at Van Andel Arena for the national championship, scored its first three goals off the power play.

Brit Ouellette had a hat trick for the Panthers, and Jonah Rogowski, Kevin Doyle and Bobby Collar also scored goals.

Lowden said he believes Davenport will have its hands full in the finals.

"Gulf Coast is a hard working team that will come out strong, and we hope our conditioning and speed will be a factor in how the game is decided," Lowden said.

Florida Gulf Coast (38-3) defeated Siena 7-2 in the other national semifinal.